ArticleGMS hygiene and infection control2026
How to get cheap clean air? Implementation of an affordable high-efficient air filtration ventilation system for operating theatres in a low-resource setting.
Article in GMS hygiene and infection control, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. It is linked to trial NCT07034573 (Evaluation of the Performance of the Ventilation-filtration System for Operating Rooms at the Protestant Hospital of Mbouo-Bandjoun), which is not on this map. Not yet cited in PubMed.
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The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.
The trial behind it
Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.
Evaluation of the Performance of the Ventilation-filtration System for Operating Rooms at the Protestant Hospital of Mbouo-Bandjoun (VENTI-MBOUO)
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0 citing papers in PubMed.
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Authors and funding
9 authors.
Funding
No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.
Abstract
Aim: Clean air in the operating theatre (OT) is crucial for safe surgery in order to prevent surgical site infections. Air filtration devices are standard in most OT as required by international guidelines and regulations. However, in low-resource settings, common air filtration devices are only scarcely found in OT, mainly due to high cost. Context-adapted low-cost solutions for clean air in OT are urgently needed but not available. The aim of this study was to assess the effectiveness of a new mechanical air filtration system for OTs, to describe its technical details and compare its performance with DIN/ISO standards and natural window ventilation, at a district hospital in Mbouo, Cameroon. Methods: An affordable (3,500 €) high-efficient air filtration system was developed, locally constructed and implemented. An evaluation was done after 4 years of regular use, comparing the system with ISO/DIN guidelines. Results: The device was still working properly after 4 years of regular use without any maintenance. The air filtration system reduced particles in the OT by >97%. The microbial contamination in the OT air was reduced by 72% after starting the device. Although it is not fully compliant with all DIN/ISO requirements, the ventilation system greatly improved the cleanliness of the OT air compared to 'natural' window-based ventilation. Conclusions: This pilot study showed the feasibility and quality of a new context-adapted affordable air filtration device for OT in low-resource settings. Further studies and upscaling are needed. Construction plans are freely available.
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